A Sesqui moment: some key ingredients of the Southern Claims process

Enter Gen. John Pope’s General Order No. 5, which was issued 150 years ago today. Alas… key elements in the Southern Claims application process…

1) “In an area where the Union army was to subsist upon the country…”

2) “Vouchers will be given to the owners… payable at the conclusion of the war, upon…”

3) “…sufficient testimony being furnished that such owners have been loyal citizens of the United States since the date of the vouchers…”

GENERAL ORDERS NO. 5

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA
July 18, 1862, Washington,

Hereafter, as far as practicable, the troops of this command will subsist upon the country in which their operations are carried on. In all cases supplies for this purpose will be taken by the officers to whose department they properly belong under the orders of the commanding officer of the troops for whose use they are intended. Vouchers will be given to the owners, stating on their face that they will be payable at the conclusion of the war, upon sufficient testimony being furnished that such owners have been loyal citizens of the United States since the date of the vouchers. Whenever it is known that supplies can be furnished in any district of the country where the troops are to operate the use of trains for carrying subsistence will be dispensed with as far as possible.

That pretty much… oh, hold on a sec. Back it up for just a minute… “loyal… since the date of the vouchers”?! I think “Uncle John’s” estate has a shot at a court case on this one. 🙂 After all, the Commission denied his claim based on the fact that he couldn’t prove his military service with the Confederate army wasn’t voluntary. Yet, the vouchers he had dated from 1864 and 1865.

[…] owners were rightful, loyal citizens they would receive compensation – vouchers. As Robert pointed out last month, these points in the orders became important ingredients for Southern Claims after the […]